I'm not worried about failing, I make pretty good grades without trying terribly too hard in a very competitive school. I am in HST, which is a variant of HOSA. I'm in Austin Texas man, they have really good EMS services here, with some good hospitals (Seton, Brackenridge, St.David that don't mind students like me rooting around in them). Here, it takes two years to go from EMT -B to -P in most college/community college programs ( the community college offers the best program in the state, the graduates on common get hired right away). The -B program you describes sounds a lot like the ones they do here from my understanding. And I was advised by multiple EMTs, and my friend who is a -P to get my basic and just hold onto it and take it slowly, i was told not to rush for your -P right away, and just build up hours/experience. I pretty much plan to get my -P through the community college program, get my basic class credits (english and shit), transfer to a 4 year college (texas tech? UT-A?), get a job, get a bachelor's, get an RT or RN degree so i could eventually work on a helicopter later on. That's more of my long term goal. Short term goal? Get my lazy as fuck school to add on EMT-B, so i can save myself some time.
Btw, how many hours did you have to do clinically, and how many on the trucks?

It's generally two 12 hours shifts in the hospital and two 12 hours shifts on the ambulance but due to how many students were out in the field when I did it we only had the one shift on the ambulance which was pretty shitty. General rule of thumb for when to go for paramedic is to wait until you're a good EMT otherwise you won't be a good medic. From what I've heard helicopters are pretty tough to get on to. I talked to some of the Mercy Air and Upland Fire (I think they're a branch from your Reach guys) and they were saying it usually takes about 5 years depending on how good you are and where you're working. They want to see a good bit of variation in the calls you run for them to want to hire you. Not really sure about their flight nurses, but that's what the medics were telling me. You need to get several extra certs too. I was actually thinking about doing the same thing as you, -B to -P to RN. I want to go into the military after I get some experience though and do their combat medic stuff then maybe get the Army to pay for my RN or something. Shit I might even try to go for MD in the future but that's all further down the line. Plus I hear the first year or so of that is really in the books and I'm more of a hands on person.

Edited:

Texas, that reminds me, one of the guys I was in class with was saying they were offering signing bonuses to EMTs down there. You know if there's any truth to that or what counties might be doing it?

Ok i'll give this thread a shot. Medical fpers, i think i'm suffering from anxiety attacks about my heart. Sometimes when i'm lying in bed, my heart starts feeling... Weird. Like it's beating too hard or struggling. Like this is it, i'm gonna die. It isn't painful at all, but it feels like my neck's arteries are really pronounced and that any second now something's going to happen.

My pulse itself is normal, about 70 maybe, and i feel no pain or anything. It's hard to describe, it's just... Weird.

I'm 18 yrs old, maybe a tad chubby, like baby fat style, and have no history of heart problems. I think the only lifestyle change recently has been less exercise and more sweets and fizzy drinks due to being around exam time where i consume more comfort foods.

Really not sure what to make of this so any advice wouls be appreciated, thanks.

It's generally two 12 hours shifts in the hospital and two 12 hours shifts on the ambulance but due to how many students were out in the field when I did it we only had the one shift on the ambulance which was pretty shitty. General rule of thumb for when to go for paramedic is to wait until you're a good EMT otherwise you won't be a good medic. From what I've heard helicopters are pretty tough to get on to. I talked to some of the Mercy Air and Upland Fire (I think they're a branch from your Reach guys) and they were saying it usually takes about 5 years depending on how good you are and where you're working. They want to see a good bit of variation in the calls you run for them to want to hire you. Not really sure about their flight nurses, but that's what the medics were telling me. You need to get several extra certs too. I was actually thinking about doing the same thing as you, -B to -P to RN. I want to go into the military after I get some experience though and do their combat medic stuff then maybe get the Army to pay for my RN or something. Shit I might even try to go for MD in the future but that's all further down the line. Plus I hear the first year or so of that is really in the books and I'm more of a hands on person.

Edited:

Texas, that reminds me, one of the guys I was in class with was saying they were offering signing bonuses to EMTs down there. You know if there's any truth to that or what counties might be doing it?

I don't know really much about the signing bonuses, if i was to GUESS, i would say Travis or Williams county, AKA Austin, because they treat their EMTS really well, i've heard even one of the best in the nation.
and really just two 12 hour shifts? I've already done that amount on my own time, and some. I thought it was more like 4, 12 hour shifts. I remember I actually got to bump a student off the truck i was on to another truck because i was friends with the medic. In retrospect the guy was grateful later on in the day, because the other truck he got put on responded to some really interesting calls. (Face burn, and a cardiac call (patient died at the scene in a little patch of swamp near the highway, so when we walked into the station it smelled like piss and dick because the student did compressions in the muck).
and yeah helicopters are rough to get on from what i've heard, my friend who was the medic just started working with Herman Life Flight in Houston, he doesn't have any other cert either i think, which raises a few questions of how he got the job. He spent a few years working 911 and working in the ER, so that is probably it.. And a large portion of RTs i've met use to work on the helicopters too, and suggest to go for it because you'll never regret it.

Ok i'll give this thread a shot. Medical fpers, i think i'm suffering from anxiety attacks about my heart. Sometimes when i'm lying in bed, my heart starts feeling... Weird. Like it's beating too hard or struggling. Like this is it, i'm gonna die. It isn't painful at all, but it feels like my neck's arteries are really pronounced and that any second now something's going to happen.

My pulse itself is normal, about 70 maybe, and i feel no pain or anything. It's hard to describe, it's just... Weird.

I'm 18 yrs old, maybe a tad chubby, like baby fat style, and have no history of heart problems. I think the only lifestyle change recently has been less exercise and more sweets and fizzy drinks due to being around exam time where i consume more comfort foods.

Really not sure what to make of this so any advice wouls be appreciated, thanks.

Any shortness of breath? and is it only when you're trying to fall asleep? and are you stressed out? like a lot?

Ok i'll give this thread a shot. Medical fpers, i think i'm suffering from anxiety attacks about my heart. Sometimes when i'm lying in bed, my heart starts feeling... Weird. Like it's beating too hard or struggling. Like this is it, i'm gonna die. It isn't painful at all, but it feels like my neck's arteries are really pronounced and that any second now something's going to happen.

My pulse itself is normal, about 70 maybe, and i feel no pain or anything. It's hard to describe, it's just... Weird.

I'm 18 yrs old, maybe a tad chubby, like baby fat style, and have no history of heart problems. I think the only lifestyle change recently has been less exercise and more sweets and fizzy drinks due to being around exam time where i consume more comfort foods.

Really not sure what to make of this so any advice wouls be appreciated, thanks.

I'm a waiter and shit, and have been for almost 2 years, and about oh, two weeks ago, this tiny part on the right side of my back, about the middle goes numb and tingles, I don't know what it is, Im not worried about it but eh, I do want to know whats causing it

I'm a waiter and shit, and have been for almost 2 years, and about oh, two weeks ago, this tiny part on the right side of my back, about the middle goes numb and tingles, I don't know what it is, Im not worried about it but eh, I do want to know whats causing it

Sounds like something with your upper lumbar, and lower thoracic section of your spine, which commonly are injured often via heavy lifting. Obviously you're not in any pain, so i would wait and see if it gets worse, if it does, go to the Doc or better yet chiropractor.

Sounds like anxiety/stress to be honest. I would go to your doctor. He can only be the one to tell you if it's stress or something else, and he can even prescribe you something to help handle with the it.

Ok i'll give this thread a shot. Medical fpers, i think i'm suffering from anxiety attacks about my heart. Sometimes when i'm lying in bed, my heart starts feeling... Weird. Like it's beating too hard or struggling. Like this is it, i'm gonna die. It isn't painful at all, but it feels like my neck's arteries are really pronounced and that any second now something's going to happen.

My pulse itself is normal, about 70 maybe, and i feel no pain or anything. It's hard to describe, it's just... Weird.

I'm 18 yrs old, maybe a tad chubby, like baby fat style, and have no history of heart problems. I think the only lifestyle change recently has been less exercise and more sweets and fizzy drinks due to being around exam time where i consume more comfort foods.

Really not sure what to make of this so any advice wouls be appreciated, thanks.

Yea I used to get this too. Does it sort of trick you into thinking that your hearts gonna stop or something silly along those lines?
But I made myself not worry about it by exercising more and getting my heart rate up, and taking mental note that my heart seems to be working just fine. I would seek medical attention if you get any bad pain though, that usually means something isn't right

How would you tell if you have a dented chest?
Right between my ribs and at the very top, I have a very shallow divot close to an inch around. It's barely noticeable, but I want to make sure anyway. Any advice on this?

How do i know when i need to stop smoking? Seriously, i have been coughing up massive amounts of yellow/brown/clear/bloody phelgm. I enjoy smoking but when is a serious sign that i need to quit

Not sure if Medicine Troll... Just in case, here's the deal.

I understand that many people enjoy smoking, but medically speaking it is one if the worst habits out there. There isn't necessarily a clear sign you should quit, since the risk of cancer and other respiratory problems increases gradually over time, and the proper time to stop is BEFORE there are noticeable signs. Unfortunately, you are past that point; something is REALLY fucked up. So, yes. Stop smoking, whatever the cost, and see a doctor.

How would you tell if you have a dented chest?
Right between my ribs and at the very top, I have a very shallow divot close to an inch around. It's barely noticeable, but I want to make sure anyway. Any advice on this?

Hey, I have always had this small dip in my chest.
I was always kind of a chubbier kid, and thus always kind of had bitch tits.
I started working out two years ago and lost the weight, I'm 6'1" and 150lbs [~68kg] now, but I noticed i was never really ever able to get rid of the bitch tits. Like I have pretty solid pecs, but there's still a little bit of extra skin or fat around the nipple. And I think it's from the dip in my chest.
Now, that's not the reason I'm concerned but recently I've been having random chest pains on both sides of my chest. They're kind of like a tightness and pretty painful. I'm not sure if it's the dip that's affecting me but I'd like to know if anyone else has had something similar to this? Or knows anything about it.

Ok i'll give this thread a shot. Medical fpers, i think i'm suffering from anxiety attacks about my heart. Sometimes when i'm lying in bed, my heart starts feeling... Weird. Like it's beating too hard or struggling. Like this is it, i'm gonna die. It isn't painful at all, but it feels like my neck's arteries are really pronounced and that any second now something's going to happen.

My pulse itself is normal, about 70 maybe, and i feel no pain or anything. It's hard to describe, it's just... Weird.

I'm 18 yrs old, maybe a tad chubby, like baby fat style, and have no history of heart problems. I think the only lifestyle change recently has been less exercise and more sweets and fizzy drinks due to being around exam time where i consume more comfort foods.

Really not sure what to make of this so any advice wouls be appreciated, thanks.

Edited:

Goddamn i am not good on my phone

jackald, sounds like good old palpitations that you're experiencing. A bit disconcerting but if you have no other symptoms and your pulse isn't raising then it's probably not too much to worry about!

jackald, sounds like good old palpitations that you're experiencing. A bit disconcerting but if you have no other symptoms and your pulse isn't raising then it's probably not too much to worry about!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panic_attack some of the psychological symptoms match what he said earlier. Again if he wants to know if it truly is anxiety/panic attacks, and not something else he needs to go to the doc.
He never told us straight up if he is under a lot of stress or not, but he did mention how he gained a little bit of weight due to final exams, so he obviously is under or was under some kind of stress.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panic_attack some of the psychological symptoms match what he said earlier. Again if he wants to know if it truly is anxiety/panic attacks, and not something else he needs to go to the doc.
He never told us straight up if he is under a lot of stress or not, but he did mention how he gained a little bit of weight due to final exams, so he obviously is under or was under some kind of stress.

Well i'm not really stressed out, i just get lazier with non-work stuff around exam time. If anything it's the opposite, this started AFTER my exams were finished. Anyway thanks for the help guys.

For a few days now I've occasionally felt a stinging pain to the left of my chest. It's not really inside the heart however. It's kind of in between the inner chest and the heart. It's not really a super-painful sting either, it just kinda pokes in every now and then. It's really more annoying than painful.
I did some research on my own, and I found that it can be some sort of "chest wall pain", which is common in children and teenagers. Being 16, I suppose I apply to that audience.

Starting to think im lactose intolerant or have IBS. The more fruits I eat the more my stomach starts to hurt and the more diarrhea I get. I also get super gassy too. My diet is typically oatmeal with milk for breakfast, chicken for dinner and a few apples or oranges for a snack later. I typically get the symptoms after that. Anyone else have this problem?

i don't REALLY think that, but i still do things based off of this though process

if i go to get a drink and see that one of my barq's root beers is on the shelf by his lonesome, i'll go ahead and put him back in the barq's box because he probably wants to be with his bros.

if i reorganize my entertainment center and see that two things were always next to each other before i cleaned that area out, ill make sure they remain next to each other because they prolly got to know each other pretty well for however long they were there before i cleaned the place out.

i don't REALLY think that, but i still do things based off of this though process

if i go to get a drink and see that one of my barq's root beers is on the shelf by his lonesome, i'll go ahead and put him back in the barq's box because he probably wants to be with his bros.

if i reorganize my entertainment center and see that two things were always next to each other before i cleaned that area out, ill make sure they remain next to each other because they prolly got to know each other pretty well for however long they were there before i cleaned the place out.

i think i started doing this after i first saw toy story.

I do this, especially with old plush toys. I have it badly for my 'active' cup as well.

So I posted in this thread back in October how my kneecap dislocated and moved onto the side of my leg (I was picked up by an ambulance and the kneecap was pushed back using force from like, 3 doctors hghhfhg). Afterwards, I had to sort of limb around on the good leg which caused it to get overstressed a lot. It's been about 4 months and it's goinf relatively fine, except that the good kneecap feels really loose. If I lay down for some time, then move my leg, I can feel how my kneecap moves around and eventually pops into space where it should be. Did I make shit hit the fan by accidentally overstressing the good kneecap?

i don't REALLY think that, but i still do things based off of this though process

if i go to get a drink and see that one of my barq's root beers is on the shelf by his lonesome, i'll go ahead and put him back in the barq's box because he probably wants to be with his bros.

if i reorganize my entertainment center and see that two things were always next to each other before i cleaned that area out, ill make sure they remain next to each other because they prolly got to know each other pretty well for however long they were there before i cleaned the place out.

i think i started doing this after i first saw toy story.

Definitely sounds like OCD, I have a little bit of that. I don't personify the objects, but if I actually think about the placement of books and paper on a desk, for instance, I'll think "no that doesn't look right" and move them around into a position that I think IS right. I also hate leaving the volume on the TV at odd numbers that aren't multiples of five... Just seems weird.

Definitely sounds like OCD, I have a little bit of that. I don't personify the objects, but if I actually think about the placement of books and paper on a desk, for instance, I'll think "no that doesn't look right" and move them around into a position that I think IS right. I also hate leaving the volume on the TV at odd numbers that aren't multiples of five... Just seems weird.

That's not really similar to what he is talking about at all. anthropomorphism is a very human trait

That's not really similar to what he is talking about at all. anthropomorphism is a very human trait

Sorry, I didn't quite explain myself correctly; I anthropomorphize of course, and I have a big of OCD like most people do, but it seems to me that skynrd has combined those two things. Or he could just be a really swell guy, even to inanimate objects.